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Philippines, 03 Mar 2026 |
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VETYEKA AND BUNGU BRIMMING WITH CONFIDENCE By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing.com Fri, 30 May 2014  MACAU ? WBA featherweight super champion Simpiwe Vetyeka and trainer Vuyani Bungu were both buoyant about their chances going into this Saturday?s title defense against Nonito Donaire. The South African Vetyeka feels he has the necessary boxing skills needed to beat the Filipino Flash. Even if he is the champion, he has singled out Donaire knowing that the multi-division champion is the biggest name out there within his weight range. He said that he has trained harder for his biggest challenge. Vetyeka has already stopped two of Indonesia?s best ? Daud Yordan and Chris John. But a win against Donaire, who was a top ten pound for pound fighter before losing to Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba last year, will mean a lot more. Vetyeka?s sentiments were echoed by Bungu, a former IBF super bantamweight champion from 1994-99. ?Nonito is a puncher,? Bungu told this writer after the press conference, ?Vetyeka is a boxer. He will outbox Donaire. But unlike Rigondeaux, he will not run.? Bungu defended his title thirteen times, the most number for a South African boxer; a feat that he is obviously proud of considering that the record still stands. Bungu considers Kennedy McKinney, the American whom he beat for the title as the best he faced. ?With McKinney you had to be very careful because of his powerful right hand.? He said. Bungu actually beat McKinney twice on points. He also holds victories against two boxers with Filipino lineage ? Jesus Salud and Arnel Barotillo. He also has a victory against American Danny Romero and lost to countryman Lehlo Ledwaba and British star Naseem Hamed. ?I was always working with kids, teaching them how to box,? Bungu said, ?That is why when I retired, I decided to be a full time trainer.? He ended his career in 2005 with a record of 39-5,19KO?s. The one thing that Donaire and Bungu have in common is that they were involved in fights chosen by Ring magazine as the ?Upset of the Year?. Bungu got the nod in 1994 in his title win against McKinney while Donaire got the award in 2007 when he knocked out Vic Darchinyan in five rounds for the IBF flyweight title. Donaire?s victory also earned him Knockout of the Year honors. Vetyeka (26-2,16KO?s) and Donaire (32-2,21KO?s) will have their weigh-in Friday 3PM at the Bellini Lounge of the Venetian Macau. They will fight on Saturday May 31 at the Cotai Arena. TOP PHOTO ? Simpiwe Vetyeka (left) and trainer Vuyani Bungu Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..  |
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